After an almost two-year hiatus, girl group Weeekly have hit the ground running and aren’t looking back. Last November, members Lee Soojin, Monday, Park Soeun, Lee Jaehee, Jihan, and Zoa returned with their prismatic fifth mini-album ‘ColoRise’. Not only did the album mark their grand return, it also outlined their intent to showcase all that Weeekly can and will do. Be it within Korea, or setting their sights across the globe, Weeekly is ready to make 2024 their biggest year yet.
Further showcasing this intent is digital single ‘Stranger’, just released into the world as of the 25th; the bittersweet track has both a Korean and an English version.
Though it was a frigid winter night when Clash met with Weeekly in Seoul, South Korea, any trace of cold was easily forgotten when the sunny six-piece opened up about their music, thoughts, plans, and their beloved fans, known as Daileee.
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Tell us a bit about returning from your hiatus. What feelings and thoughts did you experience while preparing for your last comeback?
Soojin: It’s been a long time since we’ve come back. Because we debuted during COVID, this was our first time coming back with our fans, and we’re experiencing a lot of firsts, like having fans in person at our activities.
Soeun: During the last two years, we thought a lot about ourselves, and how we should spend our time. But no matter what, we were thinking of the fans. We’re so grateful to those who waited and stayed with us, whether or not we were having a comeback during that time. We were very touched. Because of them, we were able to have a great comeback.
At the press event for ColoRise’s release, Soeun noted that this album embodies the group’s aim to elevate its status in the music industry through Weeekly’s unique color. What does elevating your status in the music industry mean to you?
Soeun: Weeekly wants to try many different genres, and that starts with ColoRise. This album is the first to target that desire to show many sides.
Zoa: There are six tracks, and each track has a different, unique vibe. We wanted fans to see six different sides of Weeekly, and see which they liked the best. We wanted the feedback, to further develop the identity of our group for future albums.
As you are working to refine Weeekly’s own unique color, how would you describe that color? What feeling do you think your music has?
Monday: The priority we put on our music is positive energy. The concept can be dark, bright, anything, but at the end of the day, it’s all about the positive energy we want to show. When fans listen to Weeekly’s music, we hope that it can bring that happy and bright energy into their lives. That is the core concept, moving forward, despite the different genres and sides we might try.
Soeun: Among the team, we have very good chemistry, and a good relationship. We feel that that shows in the music, and that makes our music very accessible. It’s something that has a happy vibe, and is easy to listen to.
What other sort of music would Weeekly like to try out in the future?
Jihan: Songs for the seasons. I want to make a song with a summer feeling, a summer song.
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When someone thinks of Weeekly, what do you want to come to their minds?
Jaehee: ‘Chameleon’. We can adapt to many different genres, try different challenges… and still have the maximum output in all of those things.
Zoa: I want fans to feel like our songs are a part of their daily routine. When they listen to ‘After School’, I want them to reminisce on the time they spent in high school, and they could listen to ‘Vroom Vroom’ whenever they go out for a drive.
What drives you to improve as an artist?
Monday: This might sound cliché, but my biggest inspiration truly is our fans. Not only did they wait for us for almost two years, but they’re such a big part of my life. We have a lot of (applications) where we can communicate with Daileee, and we go there to have those interactions, every day. We don’t want them to be bored, and we don’t ever feel like it’s homework, for us. We do it because we want to do it. It’s like a conversation with a friend.
Jaehee: I feel absolutely the same as Monday. At the same time, my other biggest motivation is the members. Between being at the dorm, practicing, and our schedules, we’re always together. So whenever we are tired, or things are difficult, we get through all of it together.
Within the year 2024, you will be doing your first US tour. What can you tell us about the tour at the moment? What are your thoughts about going on tour for the first time?
Monday: In the past, we’ve done video calls with Daileee in the US, but we haven’t been able to meet them in person yet. Because of that, to us, the fans are also like celebrities. I also have a lot of worries, such as cultural differences and the language barrier. I’m curious and worried about how Daileee in the US will embrace us. I’ve thought, “Will they embrace us as we are? Will there be any difference from our performances here and in Asia?” We’re also working on our English as well, to lessen that language barrier and have more freedom to communicate with our fans, onstage or off-stage. We also have members who haven’t been to the States, yet, so we not only want to have a good tour, but also make a good memory.
Soeun: Because it’s our first tour, we have a lot of worries, but we want to enjoy our stages as well. We’ll do our best during our tour preparation period. We want to have a lot of interaction with our US Daileee, and get to know them well.
Zoa: [In English] I went to the US when I was in the third grade, and it was the best memory for me. It was with my family, at Christmas. So I’ve always wondered about touring the US with our members, during the Christmas season [The other members chime in to assure that she always says this]. Even if it’s not on the first US tour, someday, I want to go with our members during Christmas. It’s so beautiful.
In January, You’ll be releasing a single – ‘Stranger’ – in both Korean and English, another first for Weeekly. Tell us a bit more about that single.
Soeun: Through ColoRise, we worked on many different genres. ‘Stranger’ will also be very different, genre-wise. It has a winter feeling, but a bit of a cozy, summer feeling as well. While practicing, we worked on perfecting this unique vibe through our vocal tone – as a group, and individually. For this release, we first worked on the English version, and then the Korean version. The song has two meanings. The Korean lyrics hold an ending to the song, while the English lyrics have a more open ending.
Jihan: [In English] ‘Stranger’ is the first English lyrics song for Weeekly, so we think it’s special, for us and for international Daileee.
What are your hopes and expectations for the year 2024?
Soojin: Next year, we want to have successful comebacks, and a successful US tour, and our biggest goal is to get first place on a music broadcast. But there’s something that isn’t statistics, a reward, or numbered success… We have a goal for our fans, or even just people who listen to music, to have absolute trust in Weeekly’s music, and our vibe.
Zoa: Because we had almost a two year break, we want to make up for the time lost in our absence, by showing all of the love to our fans.
What do you want people to know about Weeekly?
Soojin: Our catchphrase is “Every day brings a new and special week”. We hope that from now on, we can make that become true, together with our fans.
Jaehee: We want everyone to know that we really respect the stage that we are on. We’re always working hard, as a team, and individually. We really enjoy being onstage, and when we are there, we want to be together as one, with our fans.
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Words: Ciara Glagola
